Distributors what they do for us

[AuctionLamb]

For any retail company or company involved in retail to close middle Dec/beginning Jan, is basically the same for a restaurant to close lunch time every day. Busiest time for them but they close...

Edited January 9, 2011 by AuctionLamb

[Guest coenie]

And so did I, and I never mind catering to serious buyers over that time who actually SPEND MONEY and dont come in expecting you to have a return spring for a left shifter on 2001 8 speed Shimano Ultegra that they need NOW or they cant go on their 20 min, 3 km ride-the-christmas-turkey-off piss around and give you attitude while they're about it because, why should they pay for it, Shimano is guaranteed for life isn't it???!!!

For some people who work in "convenience retail" its just a job, and not their own business, and they would like to spend time with their families, just like the rest of most of the chirpers on this thread.

My staff go home and come back productive in the new year, I'll keep the ship afloat, for whingers.

And if you are so serious and you cant BEAR to miss 4 days of training for the spring classics or your early Giro preparation has taken a knock, have your sponsor fly you out whatever you need to be able to train and keep pace with Schleck and Contador.

Or alternatively, you can always get a life???

The question was why they don't want to manual invoicing number 1 and then why do they close over x-mas. If I had to work to supply you and your staff with an service why can the not do the same.? Your comment about being sponsored is irrelevant since we are discussing SERVICE here.

[deanbean]

The question Francois is, do you want my money or don't you, because I want to ride my bike while on holiday, and I don't give a continental about what you want. If I want some obscure part because I buggered it up tinkering on my bike, I want it, and if you cannot give me the service I want I'll go somewhere else for it, then I'll moan on the hub, and you'll lose business, so It's your choice. And no I'm not debating my choices with you, it's my money I'm spending.

Edited January 9, 2011 by deanbean

[prox]

im hoping the concept stores here (and the new one here in KZN) set there prices more globally related?

 

Haven't been to one as yet, but with the rent @ Melrose Arch I highly doubt it

[Guest coenie]

The question Francois is, do you want my money or don't you, because I want to ride my bike while on holiday, and I don't give a continental about what you want. If I want some obscure part because I buggered it up tinkering on my bike, I want it, and if you cannot give me the service I want I'll go somewhere else for it, then I'll moan on the hub, and you'll lose business, so It's your choice. And no I'm not debating my choices with you, it's my money I'm spending.

Well said. Imagine car dealers closing? Sorry sir we are closed and you can not get that nice new 4x4 for your holiday spending your bonus, please hold onto your money till next year?

 

But the main issue was not the surplier being closed it was /is them not wanting to release the stock since the server was down.

 

You have the nail on the head though.

[TriGuru76]

I think 99% of the hubbers on here are not unreasonable people.

We are not nazi slave drivers. So Francois, i honestly dont expect anyone to work on Christmas day or any of the others.

That is a choice at the end of the day. Do they want to work or don't they.

 

I always feel sorry for the poor guy behind the counter working away while all his buddies are out having a party.

For some people holiday is a luxury. For some a must just to bring home a half a chicken for dinner.

 

So i would say let us not continue debating on if a shop should be open or not.

Like one hubber said. we are debating service.

Our comany has over 470 000 vehicles being tracked on a daily basis. if we do server upgrades, we do it at a scheduled time at night. with least amount of disruption.

Guys like Specialized wants to make their bed and sleep in it.

 

This is why shopping online is so nice and easy cause i know i'm gonna wait a few days. i know i can go online anytime of day.

Ask yourselves the question, what if the hub or CRC or CWC websites are down for repairs. do we still rant an rave like we are doing now.

Will waiting one extra day extend shorten your life by 10 years.

 

Lastly, just cast your minds back 15 years ago, what did we do on a Saturday afternoon and sundays before the shopping malls pushed operating ours till 8 -10pm?

[AndreZA]

Did YOU work between Christmas and New Year?????

Or were you on leave enjoying you bike??? Or shopping and expecting everything to be open and ready, red carpet rolled out for your covenience?

EVERYONE deserves a rest, especially those who need to deal with inconsiderate asses like you all day long.

 

What is you problem ass? Yes I worked the whole time. We are open everyday the JSE is open. I take my leave out of season. I don't say some people are not allowed leave but how can some shops/businesses close completely? They are retail and the best of the year for sales are over the December period. I do my browsing oover the net and price comparison over the phone. I hardly ever wander around a bike shop.

[Eldron]

And so did I, and I never mind catering to serious buyers over that time who actually SPEND MONEY and dont come in expecting you to have a return spring for a left shifter on 2001 8 speed Shimano Ultegra that they need NOW or they cant go on their 20 min, 3 km ride-the-christmas-turkey-off piss around and give you attitude while they're about it because, why should they pay for it, Shimano is guaranteed for life isn't it???!!!

For some people who work in "convenience retail" its just a job, and not their own business, and they would like to spend time with their families, just like the rest of most of the chirpers on this thread.

My staff go home and come back productive in the new year, I'll keep the ship afloat, for whingers.

And if you are so serious and you cant BEAR to miss 4 days of training for the spring classics or your early Giro preparation has taken a knock, have your sponsor fly you out whatever you need to be able to train and keep pace with Schleck and Contador.

Or alternatively, you can always get a life???

 

Please, please tell us what shop you own/work for so I can never spend another cent in your shop.

 

My expectation is that you'll look for the obscure Shimano spring AND sell me a R60,000 bike. If you expect to take only the cream and leave the crud for someone else to fix I think you have your business ethic all wrong.

 

Personally I see the slow demise of the LBS - through Internet and self learning I;ve made the LBS all but redundant - I can buy most stuff cheaper and faster online and do 99% of servicing myself.

 

I've reduced my LBS dependancy to the emergency spare (tubes, lube, chain etc) and the odd spontaneous buy (a set of gear cables for a bike that I want to build TODAY).

 

Failing that LBS are dead to me and deservedly too - very few have shown me enough interest/knowledge to deserve the cash I spend.

[Slowbee]

so are hubbers expectations of a decent LBS ?

 

do your expectations differ from an LBS, to an online retail store ?

[McDutt]

Thats not difficult to figure out. On-line business will complicate the distributor agreement in terms of regions defined and fair play commissions. How does one regulate the geographic market scope once one goes in to cyberspace (the global market)

 

Maybe it's time for the manufacturer to retail chain to rethink the way business is done in the twenty first century !! The internet has made the world a smaller place and there will always be people who prefer to deal with flesh and blood rather than keyboard and screen.

 

The question that is always asked is "what is their differentiator", what does the LBS do that sets it apart from the online store ? You will always get the bargain hunters and online shoppers, deal with that and move on..... CWC seems to have seen the change in the market and adapted.....

[Eldron]

so are hubbers expectations of a decent LBS ?

 

do your expectations differ from an LBS, to an online retail store ?

 

Absolutely - online I expect no help/assistance whatsoever - I do my research, order the product and wait. My expectation is that they'll deliver according to their promise (about 10 days is my limit and most online shops easily make that limit). I do expect online to be cheaper and they are.

 

LBS I expect some knowledge and insight for their price premium. If I can't find the right info on the internet (which is rare) I will head to a LBS and happily pay a bit extra for their advice. Sadly 99% of LBS seem to know less than me (post internet searches). I will happily pay a premium for "i want it right now" kinda purchases - recently I bought some gear and brake cable sets at LBS price to complete a TT bike I was desperate to finish.

 

LBS I expect to keep "the right" amount of stock. "The right" amount is of course relative but I don't see the point of going to a bike shop, having them say "we'll get it for you" and waiting - thats what Internet shopping is for.

 

That said - I'm busy buying a bike from Cajees. They happpily did some upgrades, added some extra bits and effectively made a custom bike for me. All at a reasonable price so I will happpily part with R20,000 tomorrow. There were some communcation issues (ie: I had to make all the phone calls - no return calls occured) but my expectations of LBS are so low that they easily met them.

[deanbean]

Read an interesting blogpost from Brandon Els of Probike yesterday

trends-in-the-cycling-industry

[Guest coenie]

I got my shoes today. And Lepeloton gave me a VERY nice discount, thanks guys.

 

Now if only they also delivered the rest of my LBS's order I would have been able to also spend my discount in the shop.

 

Anyway I am happy that I got my shoes and that they gave me a discount for the inconvenience.

 

I hope to that the distributors will make better service a standard in 2011.

[Slowbee]

interesting comments from Mr Els.

 

Interesting that he reckons cheapest price will become uncool again, but that it will rather be about stock availability, especially with regards to online retail. Interesting take (if I am reading it correctly)

[Slowbee]

Another one for the tricky hubbers. Can a retail website be specific in the geographical area into which it will deliver ?

 

 

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

interesting comments from Mr Els.

 

Interesting that he reckons cheapest price will become uncool again, but that it will rather be about stock availability, especially with regards to online retail. Interesting take (if I am reading it correctly)

 

I dont think cycling retail is any differant to general retail - its just a differant product and the basics remain the same.

 

The first basic is stock, if you dont have it, you cant sell it, I wont wait for five days to get an item from a retailer when it takes three days to get it on-line so possibly he is correct there, but I disagree on his take on price, consumers today far too price sensitive, educated and prepared, buying a cycle is not like buying a hamburger, a bicycle for most is a planned purchase, hense the consumer knows before he shops whats the lowest price, and stock or no stock, he will demand that price or go somewhere else.

 

There is no way, a retailer can charge higher because he is "Professional" that in my mind is expected and not an added benefit.

Edited January 13, 2011 by GrumpyOldGuy